Menon to be released in 48 hours: Raman Singh

Raipur, April 30 (IANS) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said Monday night that he expects abducted Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon to be released in the next 48 hours.

Speaking to the media after the Maoist interlocutors and the government-appointed mediators agreed on a draft on the Maoist demands Monday night, the chief minister said: "The mediators from government as well as from Maoists side have signed on a two-page draft agreement and we expect that Alex would be released within 48 hours."

"The high-powered review committee headed by Nirmala Buch will begin its work in an hour of the release of Menon by Maoists," said Singh, who was clearly looking satisfied over the sudden development.

"It's a good beginning," Singh remarked, referring to the nod by Maoist interlocutors to the collector's release. He added, "I am ready to take this beginning forward with Maoists for the welfare of the state."

Singh said that the high-powered committee will look into all demands made by Maoists.